China's Fast Expanding Roads

[hkskyline]

China's fast expanding road to development

BEIJING, April 5, 2006 (AFP) - From not one mile of expressway 18 years ago, China now has the second most extensive network in the world behind only the United States, state media said Wednesday.

China had 41,000 kilometers (25,400 miles) of expressway at the end of last year, the China Daily said.

From 2001 to 2005, China added 24,000 kilometers and there are no plans to slow the pace of road construction, the newspaper cited government officials as saying.

"Our plan for the next five years is to maintain the same speed as in the previous five years," said Dai Dongchang, director of Transport Planning and Research Institute at the Ministry of Communications.

The ambitious construction schedule is of huge importance for China's future growth prospects as at least 60 percent of its economy is facilitated by road transport, the China Daily said.

"Although transportation is no longer a bottleneck for the economy, we still need to expand its role," Dai said.

After its completion in 2010, the Chinese expressway network will connect all provincial capitals and cities with at least half a million people, the newspaper said.

People in coastal provinces will be able to reach good roads within half an hour of travel from their homes, while the time span will be within one hour for central China and two hours for the less developed western regions.

Over the longer term, the plan is to increase the total length of expressways to at least 85,000 kilometers by 2020, or just short of the current US network of about 90,000 kilometers, the newspaper said.

During the period, about two trillion yuan (250 billion dollars) will be raised for road development from overseas and private investors.

The planned expressway network will also stretch to Hong Kong and Macao, and include the proposed Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. A feasibility study on a road link across the Taiwan Straits is also being conducted, the newspaper said.

At least three major expressways will be built to link China's major economic hubs such as the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta and the Bohai Sea Rim areas before 2020.

[zergling]

I wonder if anyone has a map showing the network of expressways in China.

[Pangu]

Originally Posted by zergling

I wonder if anyone has a map showing the network of expressways in China.

I would like to see that too.

When I travelled in China, I mostly flew, the only time I was ever on a highway was in Xinjiang and also in Dongbei.

[Oktawiusz]

And I'd like to see some pictures! Did some guy from China made a "slide-show" that presented these new chinese highways? I'd be glad if someone post some link or somethnig Anyway, congrat China! Good job!

[Handsome]

2003年我国新修通了4600公里高速公路，全国高速公路通车总里程达到2.98万公里。2004年中国新增公路通车里程4.6万公里，总里程将达185.6万公里；高速公路里程新增4400公里，到2004年底，我国高速公路通车里程已超过3.4万公里，继续保持世界第二。

[Pangu]

Originally Posted by Handsome

2003年我国新修通了4600公里高速公路，全国高速公路通车总里程达到2.98万公里。2004年中国新增公路通车里程4.6万公里，总里程将达185.6万公里；高速公路里程新增4400公里，到2004年底，我国高速公路通车里程已超过3.4万公里，继续保持世界第二。

English Translation:

In 2003, China added another 4,600 km of highway to the system, the whole nation's highway has been extended to 29,800 km. In 2004, China added 46,000 km of roadway, the total length increased to 1,856,000 km. In the same year, highway length was extended by another 4,400 km, at the end of 2004, China's total highway length has surpassed 34,000 km, continuing to be world's second longest.

[Oktawiusz]

Originally Posted by Handsome

2003年我国新修通了4600公里高速公路，全国高速公路通车总里程达到2.98万公里。2004年中国新增公路通车里程4.6万公里，总里程将达185.6万公里；高速公路里程新增4400公里，到2004年底，我国高速公路通车里程已超过3.4万公里，继续保持世界第二。

Handsome, what's that? If that contains some chinese letters my comp doesn't use those ones I saw you posted the same stuff in "Pictures of new chinese hiwgways" and I don't know what I have to do with that

P.S. Upss, I just read Pangu message, now I know But has anyone taken the pictures of yours highways yet?

[IanChen]

A highway across the Taiwan Straits??? Is that even feasible? I highly doubt it.

[BigChina]

is it possilble???

[Mosaic]

Originally Posted by IanChen

A highway across the Taiwan Straits??? Is that even feasible? I highly doubt it.

I think it is not feasible for sure as it's quite far between China and the island.

[wigo]

A tunnel has been proposed.